Product Description

The GR-DVL120 boasts a 680,000-pixel CCD super high-band processor for 520 lines of horizontal resolution. The maximum user friendliness is achieved with Night Alive (for low-light recording), high-resolution 2.5" Amorphous Silicon LCD color monitor, 700X super digital zoom with spline interpolation, picture stabilizer and long-time recording capability.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #58865 in Camera & Photo
• Brand: JVC
• Model: DVL120U
• Platforms: Windows Me, Windows NT, Mac, Windows 98, Windows 2000, Windows NT 3.5, Windows NT 4, Windows NT 5, Windows XP, Windows 2000 Server, Mac OS X, PowerMac, Windows, Mac OS 9 and below
• Dimensions: 2.00 pounds
• Display size: 2.5

Features

• MiniDV camcorder
• 16x optical, 700x digital, zoom with image stabilization
• 2.5-inch color LCD; black and white EVF
• Snapshot mode records stills onto tape
• S-Video and IEEE1394 outputs

Amazon.com Review
Although larger than most MiniDV cameras, the JVC GR-DVL120U still feels lightweight and fits snugly into the palm of one hand. It also doesn't offer some of the high-end features of other MiniDV cameras, but for the inexpensive price of $400, it's still a great value.

The GR-DVL120U includes a 16x optical zoom and 700x digital zoom, letting you get quite close to your subjects. The 2.5-inch flip-out LCD renders images in crisp colors, although the optical viewfinder displays in black and white.

Video quality proved to be bright and colorful, with some decent digital effects available, including wipes and fades. While the GR-DVL120U doesn't include a memory-card slot for storing still pictures like some other cameras in its class, it does take snapshots, housing them on the same DV tape as video.

JVC's NightAlive feature allows for filming in low-light situations, although we have seen better results with the low-light capabilities of other cameras and camcorders.

Recharging the camera requires plugging the AC cord directly into the camera itself--depending on your viewpoint, not having a separate battery charger might be either a positive or a negative. Regardless, the battery recharges quickly, and the charge lasts a little longer than an hour--sufficient for most users.

You'll want a FireWire-capable PC to transfer video to your computer, and you'll have to pick up a FireWire cable. You can also send video directly to your TV or VCR via RCA or S-video from the 120U.

While the GR-DVL120U may not have all the features of JVC's higher-end models, this MiniDV cam does deliver excellent video quality in a very affordable package. The GR-DVL120U would please almost any beginning digital video enthusiast. --J. Curtis

Pros:

• Great price
• Takes digital still photos
• 16x optical zoom/700x digital zoom

Cons:

• No storage card for stills
• Black-and-white viewfinder

Amazon.com Product Description
A perfect introduction into the world of digital video, the GR-DVL120U provides all the features you need to get rolling, including a 16x optical zoom, digital image stabilization, and IEEE 1394 compatible outputs.

Lens
Breaking the mold that most other digital camcorders fall in, the GR-DVL120U has a very bright f1.8 lens, which should help with a dilemma common to many digital camcorders: poor low-light performance. While not useful at the highest levels, the optical zoom is augmented by a 700x digital zoom, which can supply that little bit extra you might need in some circumstances. Paired with the zoom is a digital image stabilizer, which will help eliminate much of the shakiness associated with high zoom levels.

Shooting Functions
While many entry-level camcorders skimp on the features, the GR-DVL120U actually provides some useful functions. The manual focus, exposure, and white-balance modes allow you to tailor the image to suit your needs and give you more control over essential camera functions. In addition, JVC added in a number of digital wipes and fades, as well as a black fader.

Output Options
If you want to play your footage on television, the 120U provides two connection methods: S-video and standard RCA-style AV connectors. S-video provides the better video resolution, but you'll still need to use the AV cable for audio, as S-video doesn't carry an audio signal. If your object is to edit your movies on a computer, the camera also comes equipped with an IEEE 1394 compliant port for shuttling video back and forth. It's a four-pin connector, and most computers with IEEE 1394 ports have six-pin connectors, so make sure you pick up the correct cable (JVC doesn't provide one).

From the Manufacturer
The GR-DVL120 Mini DV camcorder provides high quality picture and PCM digital stereo sound. In combination with JVC's super hi-band processor, Mini DV allows this camcorder to deliver a high performance of 520 lines horizontal resolution. Incorporates a 680,000 pixel that assures superior high-resolution picture performance. Other features include IEEE-1394 (input and output) terminal and a 16x optical zoom lens lets you close in on your subject with a pure optical quality.

• Versatile Multimedia Interface: DV in/out terminal i.link: IEEE-1394 provides fast loss-less Digital transfer to a computer or dubbing from or to another DV unit.
• PCM Digital Stereo Sound:12/16-bit audio: 16-bit offers one set of stereo tracks and achieves the same quality as CD, while the 12-bit mode creates two sets of stereo tracks. Audio dub is possible when recorded in 12-bit mode.
• Zoom:Equipped with a 16x optical zoom that lets you close in on your subject with a pure optical quality, and the 700x digital zoom that allows you go all the way out with incredible close-ups. Spline Interpolation technology smoothes out image contours to minimize jagged edges. You can also zoom in on any part of an image during playback with the 40x pinpoint zoom.
• LCD Monitor:This camcorder is equipped with a 2.5" tiltable LCD screen for high angle overhead shooting, low angle shots, or even self portraits.
• Special Effects: A combination of built-in Digital Special Effects and Wipes/Fades will give your videos a polished and professional look.
• Snapshot Mode:Records a photo-like still image onto the video cassette with a shutter sound effect in full frame or pin-up mode.

Customer Reviews

Good value for the money
After researching the least expensive MiniDV camcorder models on the market, I finally decided the JVC GR-DVL120 packed the most punch for the price. My review does focus on some of the negatives, but in general, I am satisfied with my camcorder.
The Amazon.com editor's review mentions that the camera has a 16x optical zoom. Unless their are sub-models of the DVL120, this claim is false. The optical zoom is 10x. Regardless, the 10x optical zoom seems suitable.
JVC lets you know that the camera can perform a 700x digital, but this is essentially zoom overkill. There is a setting to stop the digital zoom at 40x, which is plenty zoomed-in. Of course, the farther you zoom in the more shaky the picture. The camera has a digital stabilizer, but the effects are not noticeable. I have no other experience with digital image stabilizers, so I do not know what to expect. Overall, the camera picture is relatively stable for a handheld camcorder. So far, the Night Alive feature has proved very ineffective. It appears that this feature mimics the strobe feature of the camera. I was hoping for more of a "green" view when the low-light feature was turned on, but that may exist only in more expensive camcorders. If you're looking for low-light or fantastically stable images, then this camera may not be for you.
The camera does include numerous other features such as b/w mode, old time movie mode, sepia, strobe, slow and a few others.
The camera does have an automatic mode and a manual mode. The automatic mode is a quick-start way of recording video -- the only options that you really need to deal with in automatic mode are the zoom and record on/off buttons. In the manual mode, you have the ability to adjust the white balance (I have not tried this yet), shutter speed and manual focus. The manual focus is a nice option to have, but I found that it somewhat challenging to use and not as versatile in its manual range as I'd hoped. Not a big disappointment though because again, this is a value camcorder and the fact that it does have a manual focus at all is a plus. The camera has a still shot button, which I find more of a nuisance than an added bonus because it is near the zoom feature, so it is sometimes accidentally punched. There is no memory card for data, so the still photo is saved to the MiniDV tape. Do not buy this camcorder if you want both a camcorder and a digital camera combination!
Other features included are editing functions such as wipes and faders. I do not use these because I typically add effects on the back end with my computer. This brings me to one of the coolest features of MiniDV -- the ability to connect your camcorder to your computer. The camera does not include the FireWire cable needed to connect to your computer, but they are relatively inexpensive and well worth it if your computer has a FireWire port. I use a program that came with my Dell to control my camcorder from my computer and record video through the FireWire to my computer. All video-to-computer transfers are made in real-time. The digital transfer keeps video quality as good as when you recorded it. The camcorder does include the necessary RCA cables needed to hook up to a television or VCR (with RCA inputs).
The AC adaptor plugs directly into the camera, so you do not need a separate bulky adaptor. The battery only lasts approximately one hour when using the color view-screen (1.25 hours with the small b/w viewfinder), which isn't that long, but is probably suitable for most consumers. Of course, extra batteries are available.
For someone looking to buy a low-priced MiniDV camcorder for general uses, the GR-DVL120 is a great value.

BEST PICTURE FOR THE MONEY
The picture quality is oustanding.
My father owns a ... Sony 3 CCD mini-DV camcorder and when he saw the playback on my ... JVC mini DV camcorder, he said the picture quality was very impressive.
This JVC's picture quality is as good as any min DV camcorder!
Basically the only reason for the price difference is for the EXTRAS--the more money, the more features you get and also the better build. One look at the ...sony camcorder and you know that it is a serious professional grade product. But, for just the picture quality, this ... JVC's picture quality is the same as the ...Sony! The JVC records up to 520 lines of resolution, the ... Sony records up to 530 lines. The more expensive JVC also records up to 530 lines.
But............... on the miniDV cassettes out there, it says that it records up to 500 lines of resolution!!!!!
So basically, all you get is up to 500 lines of resolution even if your camcorder can record up to 530 lines!
A dvd player can play up to 500 lines of resolution, but again since the pre-recorded DVDs out there have only about 480 lines of resolution, all you see is 480 lines even if you buy a [expensive] DVD player!
Bottom line, the JVC is an excellent camcorder for the price.
If you are deciding between mini-DV and Digital-8, it's a no brainer---------always go for mini-DV because it has more lines of resolution and all the professional camcorders out there are mini-DV.

Great camera for the price
This is a great camera for the price. ...The camera is light, easy to use and has great picture quality. I would recommend this camera to anyone looking for a nice digial video camera. I have seen several reviews of the camera online and all say that this is a great camera for the money. There are better cameras out there but you are looking at spending several hundred more for one of those cameras.

This camera was a breeze to use with my Apple Powerbook to do video editing with Imovie. No configuration was needed to use the camera with the laptop. I just hooked up the firewire to the laptop and used Imovie to edit and export the film to Quicktime or back to the camera. One note, a firewire cable is not included with this camera so if you are planning on editing via computer you will need to pick one up.

Overall I would highly recommend this camera to anyone who wants a DV camera that is easy to use and not very expensive.